Christmas shows for all the family

At Derby Theatre, the main house is the venue for Neil Duffield’s excellent adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

With Jim Barclay starring as Scrooge, the magical production is filled Christmas spirit, presented by a mult-talented cast of eight, combining their acting duties with singing and playing a range of musical instruments.

Directed by Sarah Brigham, and with musical direction by Adam Howell, and design by Neil Irish.

The production of A Christmas Carol can be seen at Derby Theatre until Sunday, January 4.

Meanwhile, The Studio at Derby Theatre is Hansel And Gretel.

Running until Sunday, December 28, this production bn Red Earth Theatre in association with Derby Theatre is a deliciously delightful re-telling of the Hansel And Gretel story, aimed in particular at theatregoers aged 3-7 and their families.

Hansel & Gretel is a story of a tango dancing witch and her irresistible recipe for an edible house.

Follow two brave and resourceful children as they take the path deep into the woods.

For more information and to book tickets for either of these two shows, you can call the box office on 01332 593939 or visit www.derbytheatre.co.uk

Derby LIVE’s Naught Meg And The Christmas Elves completes its run at Derby’s Guildhall Theatre this week, ending on Sunday, December 28.

Naughty Meg and the Christmas Elves is a Derby LIVE co-production with Buxton-based theatre company Babbling Vagabonds and promises to be a wickedly comic Christmas tale.

Born in a storm, Meg has always caused havoc. The naughtiest girl in the world has reduced Mum and Dad to gibbering wrecks. On one fateful day she upsets the Christmas Elves – and war is declared. 

Told by the Elves, the audience will follow Meg on a journey to Elf-land as she comes face to face with her bad behaviour. This is a cheeky and delightful play with plenty of music, magic and mayhem.

Tickets can be booked on 01332 255800 .

Over inNottingham, the Theatre Royal’s production of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs can be seen there until Sunday January 11. (See page 21 for a review.)

At Nottingham Playhouse, panto king Kenneth Alan Taylor is the writer and director of this year’s festive offering, Sleeping Beauty.

Although he is not treading the boards, Kenneth has brought in Playhouse panto favourites John Elkington and Rebecca Little to head the cast.

Sleeping Beauty can be seen there until January 17.

Also at the Nottingham Playhouse is Wigglegiggle.

Directed by Anna Newell, Wigglegiggle can be seen until January 3 and is inspired by conversations with children. This show builds on substantial research around how music and rhythm can develop listening and language skills of 3 – 5 years olds.

For ticket details for the two Playhouse shows, call 0115 9419419.